I'm new here. I've been lurking for a while though. I own a ranch here in Utah and also do some light excavation and cleanup work. Many times I have to remove trees. I have an Echo CS590 and a Husquavarna 395. I am really thinking that a good 70cc saw would be a great option. It seems I could run up to a 36" bar if necessary at times. For me the most important factor is longevity. I hate breakdowns and poor quality. I have excellent dealers for Stihl, Husquavarna and Echo.i get that the Stihl saws seem to have more power and less weight, how do they hold up compared to the other 2? I was really thinking I liked the 572 but the 462 also piqued my interest. Any feedback you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Does 70cc mean 70cc, or anywhere from say 67-76cc?
You already own a 395- stick with orange saws for familiarity and bar compatibility.
36"bar? Maybe at a push and in a pinch, if you had to- but not real world territory for a 70cc saw.
Breakdowns and poor quality often come down to basic repairs and maintenance, plus operator experience- if choosing a saw from a known name manufacturer- look after it and it will look after you.
Stihl saws= more power and less weight? Bit subjective there and many may not agree with that statement- remember factory spec sheets and numbers are not always real world exact.
Old school = 372XP or MS460
New school= 572XP or 500i (if price is not a factor, I would skip a 461 or 462 any day in favour of the 500i, especially factoring in occasional use of a 36"bar)
Or, consider the 80cc class. The requirements you list kind of lean towards a good 288XP or 385XP. Maybe that is too close to 395 for you? But put a standard weight 36"bar on any 70cc plus saw and the weight goes up a fair bit!
Personally, if I was confident in building saws from the case halves up- I would try to find a 272/372XP and build it up with good parts to a reliable 70cc class saw for up to 28/30 inch bar work. If longer bars were more the norm than the exception, I would be looking 288/385. If buying new, 572/500i (taking into account the two "new" big Husqvarnas are not readily available yet).